Photos: Oakland rooftop garden

When you think of Oakland, what comes to mind? The universities? The traffic? The Carnegie Museums. Whatever your answer is, it probably isn't "farming."

Above the hustle and bustle of Oakland, a neighborhood restaurant is planting a rooftop garden.

The Porch at Schenley planted its rooftop garden with seven varieties of tomatoes, peppers, herbs, strawberries, blueberries and more.

The Porch at Schenley is owned by Eat'n Park and located on Schenley Drive, just off Forbes Avenue.

The executive chef, Kevin Hermann, says people are always surprised at what's happening on the roof of the restaurant. "They say, 'I had no idea,' when I tell them I have two blueberry bushes, a strawberry patch, beehives," Hermann said.

"When I start telling them how local we are, you see this smile, and that's why I love what I do," executive chef Kevin Hermann said.

The Porch buys its seedlings from the nonprofit group Grow Pittsburgh. The group's director of agricultural production, Susanna Meyer, helped Chef Kevin Hermann install the garden.

"It's amazing how many people don't look up," Susanna Meyer said. "We'll be up here in this jungle of plants and just see the tops of people's heads as they're going to school or work."

PHOTO: John McKee

"I pick tomatoes, and within an hour, they're on a plate. Not many places in the city are able to do that," executive chef Kevin Hermann says.

PHOTO: John McKee

This is the third year for the garden. It allows the menu at The Porch at Schenley to stay fresh.

PHOTO: John McKee

It will probably take a month before what was planted in The Porch at Schenley's rooftop garden can be used in the restaurant's menu.

Oakland rooftop garden

Oakland rooftop garden

Oakland rooftop garden

Kevin Hermann, executive chef at The Porch at Schenley restaurant in Oakland.

When you think of Oakland, what comes to mind? The universities? The traffic? The Carnegie Museums. Whatever your answer is, it probably isn't "farming."

Above the hustle and bustle of Oakland, a neighborhood restaurant is planting a rooftop garden.

The Porch at Schenley planted its rooftop garden with seven varieties of tomatoes, peppers, herbs, strawberries, blueberries and more.

The Porch at Schenley is owned by Eat'n Park and located on Schenley Drive, just off Forbes Avenue.

The executive chef, Kevin Hermann, says people are always surprised at what's happening on the roof of the restaurant. "They say, 'I had no idea,' when I tell them I have two blueberry bushes, a strawberry patch, beehives," Hermann said.

"When I start telling them how local we are, you see this smile, and that's why I love what I do," executive chef Kevin Hermann said.

The Porch buys its seedlings from the nonprofit group Grow Pittsburgh. The group's director of agricultural production, Susanna Meyer, helped Chef Kevin Hermann install the garden.

"It's amazing how many people don't look up," Susanna Meyer said. "We'll be up here in this jungle of plants and just see the tops of people's heads as they're going to school or work."

PHOTO: John McKee

"I pick tomatoes, and within an hour, they're on a plate. Not many places in the city are able to do that," executive chef Kevin Hermann says.

PHOTO: John McKee

This is the third year for the garden. It allows the menu at The Porch at Schenley to stay fresh.

PHOTO: John McKee

It will probably take a month before what was planted in The Porch at Schenley's rooftop garden can be used in the restaurant's menu.

Oakland rooftop garden

Oakland rooftop garden

Oakland rooftop garden

Kevin Hermann, executive chef at The Porch at Schenley restaurant in Oakland.